RAWALPINDI/ ABBOTTABAD: Former chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and leading political figure of yesteryear retired Air Marshal Asghar Khan died at the Combined Military Hospital early on Friday morning after a chest infection. He was 96.

Mr Khan was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on Dec 30 after his condition deteriorated, sources said. He was suffering from acute respiratory infection, dementia and ischemic heart disease.

The former air chief has left his wife Amina Asghar Khan, his son Ali Asghar Khan and four siblings to mourn his death.

As soon as they heard about Mr Khan’s death, several prominent personalities, including Air Chief Marshal Suhail Aman and Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, rushed to his residence in Islamabad to offer condolences to his family members.

Ali Asghar Khan told Dawn that Mr Khan’s ‘official funeral’ would be offered at 9.30am at the Nur Khan Airbase. This would be a state funeral as per the instructions of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

His body would be flown to Abbottabad later, where a second funeral would be offered. He would be laid to rest in the Nawanshehr graveyard. A notification issued by the federal government said the national flag would fly at half mast on Saturday to mark the passing away of the former PAF chief.

“In pursuance of announcement by the prime minister of Pakistan, state funeral shall be accorded to retired Air Marshall Asghar Khan,” added the notification.

In his message, President Mamnoon Hussain said the services rendered by Mr Khan would always be remembered. “The contributions of late Asghar Khan for national defence and for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) would be remembered forever,” it said.

Prime Minister Abbasi prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed the hope that the bereaved family would be able to bear the loss with courage and fortitude.

Air Marshal Aman said that Mr Khan was instrumental in turning the PAF into a modern and efficient force. “Air Marshal Asghar Khan headed the PAF diligently and with courage. With his leadership capabilities, he played a vital role in transforming the PAF into a modern air force,” a press release quoted the incumbent PAF chief as saying.

In his message, the army chief described Mr Khan as an “iconic soldier”.

A tweet released by the Inter-Services Public Relations said: “Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa expresses his grief on sad demise of ex-Air Chief, Air Marshal Asghar Khan, retired.

“An iconic soldier who will be remembered for his historic contributions for laying foundations of a strong Pakistan Air Force. May Allah bless his soul. Amen.”

The tweet of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan talked about the former air chief’s integrity. “Saddened to learn of Air Chief Marshal Asghar Khan’s death early this morning. He transformed the PAF and was a man of steadfast principles and integrity. My prayers and condolences go to his family.”

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2018